On January 23, Joyce Hyak Head Start Director, Advocates for Children and Families, Inc., was elected to serve as state president of the Texas Head Start Association.

After successful terms by now past-president Venetia Peacock, Hyak will be involved in all aspects of the Head Start Program, funded by the Department of Health Human Services in Washington, D.C., until 2011.

She will oversee the Association with more than 2,000 members, which includes parents of Head Start children, teachers, teacher assistants and other support staff members. Quarterly Board of Directors meetings will be held and as well as the annual THSA.

By Dot Falcon, Health Coordinator at Advocates for Children and Families, Inc. in Victoria, Texas.

The goal of getting a dental home and ongoing, accessible dental care for every Head Start child - is it a dream or can it be a reality?

The Office of Head Start (OHS) awarded a five-year $10 million dollar contract to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) to establish dental homes for one million children enrolled annually in Head Start programs. 

On September 8th, 2008, I was truly honored to represent the local Head Start programs and express the barriers of obtaining dental services for Head Start children at the Texas State Launch of the AAPD and the OHS Dental Home Initiative in Austin.

Dr. James Crall from Los Angeles, CA, is the AAPD Head Start Project Director and Dr. Paul Kennedy of Corpus Christi is the state leader in Texas. 

The challenge is a dental home for each Head Start child. 

The issues are that this is a first time project, learning curve, a process to obtain adequate Medicaid providers, and getting accurate information on each child.

The plan is to assemble a network of dentists, supply list to Head Start centers, and support logistics and information for Head Start and dental teams. Sounds easy doesn't it?  

Dr. Paul Kennedy of Nueces Valley Dental Society, has been diligently working to communicate with each of the dental societies in Texas to partner with the Head Starts located in each area. Teams of dentists and Head Start staff will be trained in oral health care practices and ways to develop partnerships. Dental Hygienists are encouraged to come on board and provide education in the Head Start centers.

The dentists are responding and offering their help. The next task is to partner with dentists to complete the needed dental treatment due to many barriers.

For the AAPD and OHS to partner together to help combat children's tooth decay and help establish dental homes - makes this a great day for Head Start children!